Lining for drum-type or disk-type balling device



M y 1964 AKITOSHI ISHlMlTSU ETAL 3,131,424.

LINING FOR DRUM-TYPE OR DISK-TYPE BALLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1959FlG.l

"W MSF FM United States Patent 3,131,424 LINING FOR DRUM-TYPE GRDISK-TYPE BALLHVG DEVEQE Akitoshi lshimitsu, Minoru Kawarnura, andYutaka Yoshikawa, Yawata, Japan, assignors to Yawata Iron and Steel Co,Ltd Tokyo, Japan, a corporation of fapan Filed Dec. 7, 1959, Ser. No.357,968 Claims priority, application Japan Dec. 6, 1958 8 (Ilaims. (Cl.18-4.)

This invention relates to a drum-type or disk-type balling device foragglomerating moist fines, and more particularly, to an improved liningadapted for the interior surface thereof.

It is known that the interior surface of the rotating drum or disk hasto be coated by a layer or lining of the pulverant material which is tobe processed in an appropriate condition for the purpose of obtainingballs or pellets from fine iron ore by means of such drum-type or disktype balling devices. In case the whole lining of the material does notadhere fully to the interior surface of the balling apparatus or a partthereof peels ofr, then the material begins to slip over the surface ofthe steel plate from which the apparatus is constructed so that thesteel surface is abraded and polished again and again, which results ina decrease of friction and a loss of agglomerating action, because thematerial does not roll over the surface due to the increase of slip overthe polished steel surface.

It is also known that a knurled surface consisting of a series of spacedinternal ribs is provided over the interior surface of the balling drumwith a view to maintaining a layer of pulverant material in a suitablecondition.

In view of the above, the present invention contemplates the provisionof a better and more effective lining than hitherto proposed which isadapted for the interior surface of either drum-type or disk-typeballing apparatus.

According to this invention, the interior surface of the balling deviceis provided with a layer or lining of a rugged feature having a rough,uneven surface which is full of abrupt ups and downs firmly adheredthereto with or without a binding agent resulting from the formation ofa rough surface forming material, such as, rough granules havingangular, shar-ends of irregular shape, for example, pumice-stone,mineral slag, coke, porous concrete, broken pieces of brick, ore orrock, fibre, saw-dust and porous synthetic resin, etc., singly orcombined together of at least two of the substances described above.

An object of the invention is to provide a balling device the interiorsurface of which is provided with a rugged feature having a rough,uneven surface full of abrupt ups and downs in order to insure themaintenance of the material layer or lining over the interior surface,whereby the wide range of agglomerating action is attained.

Another object is to provide a layer or lining of a rugged unevenfeature firmly adhered to the interior surface of the balling device,the material of which is selected from the group of pumice-stone,mineral slag, coke, porous concrete, broken pieces of brick, or orerock, fibre, saw-dust and porous synthetic resin, etc., singly orcombined together of two substances mentioned above with a binding agentor without it.

Still another object is to provide a porous layer or lining resultingfrom the addition of a foam-forming agent, soluble substances or easilydestructible substances into 3,131,424 Patented May 5., 1964 the roughsurface forming material so that the moisture contained in the pulverantmaterial to be processed is adjusted by the action of pores in suchmanner that either the excess of moisture in the fine material isabsorbed into the pores or the lack of moisture is replenished with themoisture absorbed therein, whereby the balling action is carried out ina stable state of moisture.

Other obiects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription in connection with the ac companying drawings whichexemplify several preferred embodiments of the invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a part of the interior surface of theballing device provided with a scratched steel surface embodying apreferred example of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a part of the interior surface providedwith a lining of granular substances embodying another modified exampleof the invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a part of the interior surface providedwith a lining of porous substances embodying another modified example ofthe invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a part of the interior surface providedwith a lining of fibre embodying another modified example of theinvention.

Referring to FIG. 1, which shows one of the several embodiments of theinvention, the interior surface 1 of steel of the balling apparatus isprovided with a rough feature full of abrupt ups and downs by means of ascratching, shaving and scraping operation at random imparted directlyto the surface of steel plate from which the apparatus is constructed.Groove scratches in the direction of an axis are preferred, and scrapesin the form of an indented hemisphere are also preferable. Preferablythe burrs left on cut metal may remain as such, because the more burrsthe better due to an effect resembling to that of a grater. It is also abeneficial effect that the rotation of the apparatus is made easy andsmooth because the weight thereof decreases due to the loss of steelmaterial resulting from the above scraping operation. It is to beunderstood that the formation of a layer or lining of the material 3 tobe processed we have in view upon the thus roughened interior surface iseasily obtained by this rough uneven rugged surface. It is also to beunderstood that the provision of a scratched, shaved and scraped surfaceon a hard lining of other material than metal adhered directly to theinterior surface of steel, which can be formed either prior tosolidification or in the course of being solidified.

Referring to FIG. 2 showing a modified embodiment of the invention, theinterior surface of steel of a balling device is provided with a roughlayer or lining of granular material 5 having a surface full of a abruptups and downs by means of adhesion by a binding agent or either adhesionby fusion or by spray fusion.

The size of granular material is not limited in this invention. However,the granular material less than 1 cm., that is, about 15 mm. in diameteris adapted for our purpose, and more particularly, the granular materialwith sharp ends of strongly irregular outline is preferred for attainingthe desired effect. For example, any material such as, ore, sulphiteslag, coke, concrete, broken rock, brick, shamotte, turnings and chipsfrom machining operation, metal, alloy, or metallic compound, etc., isemployed, provided that it is neither soft nor collapsible. As a bindingagent, any composition of matter derived 3,1s1,aas

from rubber, tar, asphalt, synthetic resin or cement of a known origincan be employed. A binding agent of an epoxy resin origin isparticularly effective, and of a polyester resin origin is applied atroom temperatures due to its property of being set at room temperatures.in addition, the formation of a layer or lining having a rough unevensurface consisting of either thermoplastic or thermosetting resin can beobtained by the application of chemical actions, such as, thermosetting,adhesion by fusion, or adhesion by spray fusion.

By this balling apparatus provided with the rough un even surface thusformed, a lining or layer of such coarse material as cannot be usuallyformed in a conventional balling means is easily produced with theresult that a stable agglomerating action is achieved. Furthermore, thelining or layer of pulverant material can be maintained over theinterior surface of the balling device due to its increased area causedby the rough surface resulting from the process of this invention. Whenthe lining is softer than the mixture of granular substance and bindingagent 4, there is an advantage that the rough surface of the lining isautomatically replaced, although the surface is polished due to peelingoff of the material lining. Further, the slip of the material lining canbe prevented so as to maintain an adherent layer of the material againstthe interior surface of the balling device. Accordingly, the repair ofthe lining consisting of the granular material can be easily performed,too. Compared with a large metallic projection welded to the interiorsurface of the balling device in order to prevent material slip, thegranular substance lining of this invention can decrease the overallweight of the device and increase the surface area of the lining due toits abrupt ups and downs, which results in the increase of adhesion ofthe material lining and also in an easy rotation of the device becauseof its light weight.

Referring to FIG. 3 showing another modified embodiment of theinvention, the interior surface of the balling apparatus is providedwith a layer or lining of a porous material or a porosity-formingmaterial.

A wide variety of porous material, either soft or hard, can be employedfor the lining or layer of this modified embodiment of the invention.The use of a porous material can be applied either as an overall surfacelining or a part thereof. For example, a granular as well as porousmaterial can be applied, or a porous material can be inserted betweentwo areas of a granular material, all of which are included in thisinvention.

Soft porous materials, such as, rubber and soft synthetic resin, andhard porous materials, such as, ebonite, asphalt, hard synthetic resin,pumice-stone, mineral slag, coke, broken brick, porous concrete, etc.,are employed. Other materials than rubber, synthetic resin and concreteare employed with a suitable binding agent.

As the lining consisting of porous material embodying this invention haslots of pores all over its surface full of abrupt ups and downs, thesurface area is increased so as to prevent material from slip andpeeling off from the surface thereof. Besides, the rough uneven surfacewith abrupt ups and downs of the lining exhibits resistance to abrasionfor an extended period of time. Generally speaking, porous material haspores and vesicles and also lots of capillaries, hence it absorbs excessmoisture from the lining of fine moist material to be processed to holdit when it is in excess and supplies it when it runs short. Thisautomatic control of moisture is able to increase production. Theinterior surface of the balling device of a non-absorbent type of priorart becomes wet when the material to be processed contains too muchwater, which causes the material to slip therealong to decrease adhesionthereof.

When a coarse material is to be processed by the balling apparatus,agglomerating action depends on the moisture of the coarse material,which results in a narrow range of agglomeration. However, a wider rangeof agglomeration can be achieved by the provision of a lining or layerof porous material adhered to the inside surface of the balling device.Such limitations as the fineness of material to be processed, theproportion thereof and an amount of water to be added, are easilyadjusted so as to insure a stable operation in the production of ballsand pellets.

As the lining of porous material is light in weight because of itsporosity, there are advantages, such as, less power for rotating thedevice, and less abrasion resulting from less oscillation, etc.

Porous material is applied to the inside surface of the balling deviceby several means, such as, adhering a soft sheet in which porousmaterial is incorporated, solidifying it as desired, embedding granularporous material into a lining of binding agent, and incorporating afoam-forming agent into the lining of porous material.

Another modified process comprises providing a layer or lining of porousmaterial added with a collapsible substance, such as, saw-dust, pearliteand other porous, lightweight collapsible substances, or a solublesubstance, such as, salt and water-soluble paste. Such a lining asdescribed becomes porous as its surface destroys gradually according toattrition.

Particularly, if the upper layer of the porous lining is required to bemore porous than the lower layer, the addition of a collapsible orsoluble substance to the upper layer of the lining will meet the aboverequirement.

Referring to FIG. 4 showing another modified embodiment of theinvention, the inside surface ll of the balling device is lined with alayer or lining in which fibre 7 is incorporated exposed on the surfacethereof. Fibre 7 is incorporated in the lining, but exposed above thesurface thereof. For example, a lining of slag wool in the form of agranule embedded into a polyester synthetic resin is provided on theinterior surface of the balling apparatus, and then scraped off toexpose fibre. It is preferable that the binding agent does not penetratefully into a granule of fibre. If fibre is removed from the lining, thelining remains porous leaving lots of pores. Further, fibre isintertwined with the lining of material to be processed so as tomaintain an adherent layer of the moist material.

Any fibre, such as, natural, artificial, mineral and vegetable fibre,can be used. Any material for a lining incorporated with fibre can beemployed, provided that it has a binding ability, and any material ofcement, rubber, synthetic resin, or asphalt origin will meet the aboverequirement.

It is to be understood that the above lining in which fibre is exposedcan be applied with a combination of lining materials describedhereinabove, such as, granular or porous substance added with or withouta collapsible or soluble substance.

While We have shown and described only a few embodiments of ourinvention, it is apparent that modifications may arise. Therefore we donot wish to be limited to the disclosure set forth, but only by thescope of the appended claims.

We claim:

I. In a balling drum apparatus for obtaining pellets from fine ores, theimprovement comprising a foundation lining with a roughened surface onthe interior wall of said drum, said lining consisting essentially of abinder and rough granules of irregular shape and of a hard porousmaterial and having sharp corners embedded in the binder, at least aportion of said rough granules having the sharp corners thereofprojecting from the surface of said binder to form said roughenedsurface, whereby a lining of the material being balled is built on saidroughened surface of the foundation lining.

2. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 in which said rough granulesare of pumice-stone.

3. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 in which said rough granulesare of mineral slag.

4. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 in which said rough granulesare of coke.

5. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 in which said rough granulesare brick fragments.

6. In a balling drum apparatus for obtaining pellets from fine ores, theimprovement comprising a foundation lining with a roughened surface onthe interior wall of said drum, said lining consisting essentially of abinder and rough granules of irregular shape and of a soft porousmaterial and having sharp corners embedded in the binder, at least aportion of said rough granules having the sharp corners thereofprojecting from the surface of said binder to form said roughenedsurface, whereby a lining of the material being balled is built on saidroughened surface of the foundation lining.

7. The improvement as claimed in claim 6 in which said rough granulesare of rubber.

8. The improvement as claimed in claim 6 in which said rough granulesare of soft synthetic resin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,164,164 Price June 27, 1939 2,411,873 Firth Dec. 3, 1946 2,543,898 DeVaney Mar. 6, 1951 2,728,940 Yesberger et al Jan. 3, 1956 2,778,056Wynne Jan. 22, 1957 2,831,210 De Vaney Apr. 22, 1958 2,834,043 Haley etal. May 13, 1958 2,947,026 De Vaney Aug. 2, 1960

1. IN A BALLING DRUM APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING PELLETS FROM FINE ORES, THEIMPROVEMENT COMRISING A FOUNDATION LINING WITH A ROUGHENED SURFACE ONTHE INTERIOR WALL OF SAID DRUM, SAID LINING CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF ABINDER AND ROUGH GRANULES OF IRREGULAR SHAPE AND OF A HARD POROUSMATERIAL AND HAVING SHARP CORNERS EMBEDDED IN THE BINDER, AT LEAST APORTION OF SAID ROUGH GRANULES HAVING THE SHARP CORNERS THEREOFPROJECTING FROM THE SURFACE A LINING OF THE MATERIAL BEING BALLED ISBUILT ON SAID ROUGHENED SURFACE OF THE FOUNDATION LINING.